Suffer the little children
Hello again
One of the most harrowing things I have ever read was a newspaper article about the long term torture and ultimate murder of 10 year old Sara Sharif, whose father, stepmother and uncle were this week jailed for a combined total of at least 89 years.
In the courtroom their crime was described as sadistic. I would go further and say it was satanic. After all, what would possess anyone to treat a sweet, innocent child in such a horrific way?
At this time of year, we might think of another person who was similarly motivated to commit an equally despicable crime. Two thousand years ago, King Herod, in a fit of jealous rage, gave orders that all boys under two years old living in the vicinity of Bethlehem should be killed.
Thankfully the object of his fury, Jesus Christ, escaped and grew up to qualify as King of all kings, winning victory over Satan as well as death itself. Even now he is preparing to return in glory, usher in his kingdom and put everything right. The well known passage in Revelation tells us what this means for the whole world – “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Rev. 21:4).”
The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write about that same future time, “The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:8-19)”.
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be upon you this Christmas.
All the best
Peter
About the Writer:
Peter Mill is a Minister and Regional Co-Pastor for Scotland, Ireland and the North of England.